Farmers and law enforcement join forces to fight crime on their properties

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Farmers and ranchers are joining forces with law enforcement to fight crime on their properties.

Law enforcement and farmers got together this weekend in Leeward Oahu to discuss the new effort.

Wai’anae resident Kalei Salcedo is fed up with crimes happening on her farm.

Salcedo said, “As farmers, ranchers, we’re going to be heard.”

She added, “We’ve faced trespassers, poachers on our properties, with guns.”

Salcedo started pushing for more law enforcement resources in 2019b and has faith in Senate Bill 1249.

The bill establishes a new unit under the state Department of Law Enforcement specifically for crimes on agricultural land.

Salcedo’s nephew, 39-year-old Makaha rancher Cranston Pia, was shot to death after he confronted a group of hunters on his property.

“His memory is going to live on. His name lives through Pia’s law, 1249,” said Salcedo.

Salcedo continued and said, “His name is not going to be forgotten, and this aunty is not going to let it fall on blind eyes and deaf ears again. This aunty has been fighting for years.”

That fight is finally paying off for Salcedo with Senate Bill 1249.

The department’s new unit would start off as a pilot program.

The plan is to have four officers on Oahu and 4 more on Hawaii Island.

An administrator will oversee the group.

Director of the State Dept. of Law Enforcement, Mike Lambert said, “Prior to SB 1249, lucky if you get a fine, maybe. And you could do it over and over again, and you could just get a bunch of fines and that really doesn’t discourage somebody if you’re making hundreds or thousands of dollars ripping someone off if your fine is 100 bucks.”

Chanston Pila Kekawa was 17 years old when he allegedly shot Pia to death.

Area Sen. Samantha Decorte, (R) Nanakuli, Maili, Waianae and Makaha, says she’s working with education officials to try to prevent more youth from committing similar crimes.

Sen. Decorte said, “It’s heartbreaking because at these ages, 16,17, 21, you should be in college, you should be starting your life, you should be starting your career, and yet you’re running the streets because of two things. There’s no accountability, there’s no fear of consequences.”

Three-generation cattle rancher and Hawai’i Island Sen. Tim Richards, (D) N. Hilo, Hamakua, Kohala, Waimea, Waikoloa, N. Kona, introduced the bill.

He himself has been a victim of theft and trespassing.

Sen. Richards said, “We are not going to stand by anymore. We’re going to stand firm and we will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law.”

Governor Josh Green is expected to sign the bill.

The department is confident that lawmakers may expand the unit in the future.